Planning project · Planning application
Single-family home with retaining walls proposed on 0.2-acre hillside lot
The plan calls for one house on a vacant hillside lot, which the city says needs a Category II hillside review because of slope and unstable soils. The application is under administrative review, and a geotechnical report and site plan are on file.

From the filing
The application's description as it appears in City of Boise's record. See the official record
Single Family in Hillside
Project name on file: 5759 S BRIAN WAY
Timeline
July 22, 2026
Pending Application Submittal: Planning Applications in Review
June 2, 2026
Concept Review Complete: CR Complete - Type 2
May 29, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview Complete
Based on submitted documents and limited overview of the property, a determination has been made that this project will be a Category II Hillside project due to slope, erosion-prone soils, unstable soils, earth movement, and other geologic and hydrologic hazards. In addition to the already submitted documents, additional documents may be required during the CFH Review process.Additional documents that you can expect to provide will be a site-specific geotechnical report with the possibility of a global slope stability analysis (please see the Agency Comment for Hillside Retaining Wall Permitting within this PLN); structural calculations for any retaining wall system that is greater than four feet in height from top of foundation to top of wall, that has more than one wall when the interior horizontal distance between the walls is less than 10 feet and the total height of all walls exceeds four feet, that has a surcharge, that has a backslope greater than three feet horizontal to one foot vertical, or that has structural components (these requirements will be assessed again at the time of occupancy); and civil plans. Please refer to the Hillside Development Requirements for Technical Reports for grading & drainage plan and geotechnical report requirements.A subgrade inspection by a geotechnical firm will be required at the time of construction once the subgrade is exposed and prior to placement of foundation materials or forms/rebar. A report of the inspection will need to be submitted to and accepted by PW Hillside (HillsideDrainage@cityofboise.org) before scheduling your inspection with the Building Department and receiving final occupancy.NOTE: The hazards of developing and building on a property, especially in the Boise foothills, are well known. It is the responsibility of the applicant/owner’s design, geological, and engineering professionals, not the City, to identify, address, and mitigate any hazards to the site. Satisfying these Conditions of Approval is for limited [City purpose] only and should not be relied on for design, geological or engineering purposes. Developer will comply with all requirements of Boise City Hillside Development Code Sections or submit evidence satisfactory to the Boise City Engineer that the proposed development is exempt from the requirements therein stated due to location, topography and/or the absence of adverse conditions associated with slope stability, ground water, erosion and sedimentation.If you would like to discuss this determination, please contact us at HillsideDrainage@cityofboise.org or we can set up a meeting if you prefer.
May 29, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Corrections Required
Please upload a site plan that includes the location of the retaining walls and the height from the bottom to the top of the retaining walls within the setbacks.Please dimension the driveway width. It cannot exceed 30' in the front setback.
May 28, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview
May 12, 2026
Application Submittal: Online
May 12, 2026
Application filed
Documents
Site plans
- Download Updated site plan
Architect's updated site plan sheet with general notes on grading, concrete, fill, and coordination with landscape and civil drawings.
June 2, 2026 · 1 page · 192 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs
- Download Site plan for proposed single-family home
Architect's site plan sheet with general notes on grading, concrete, geotechnical and civil coordination, plus parcel, zoning and land-use details for the lot.
May 12, 2026 · 1 page · 148 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Project narrative
- Download Concept review summary
Advisory concept review for a single-family home in a hillside area, noting a Category II Hillside Review and expected geotechnical documentation.
June 2, 2026 · 3 pages · 472 KB · PDS-Concept Review Summary Report
Application
- Download Planning project application form
Application for a 2,572 sq ft single-level single-family home on an R-1C zoned lot, with a Hillside Questionnaire requirement noted.
May 12, 2026 · 2 pages · 158 KB · PDS-Application
Studies and reports
- Download Geotechnical recommendation report, Lot 5 Block 1
Geotechnical report by SITE Consulting concluding the lot is acceptable for a single-family residence, with foundation bearing and settlement recommendations.
July 17, 2026 · 13 pages · 1.4 MB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Correspondence
- Download Hillside retaining wall permitting guidance
Public Works guidance on when retaining walls in the hillside zone need a determination, slope stability analysis, and planning-code height and setback limits.
May 29, 2026 · 5 pages · 804 KB · PDS-Agency Comments
Other documents
- Download Hillside project questionnaire
Public Works questionnaire answering whether the project involves a new dwelling, retaining walls, and related earthwork, used to determine the hillside review level.
May 12, 2026 · 1 page · 688 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs